African softshell turtle

African softshell turtle
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Trionychidae
Genus:	Trionyx
Species:	T. triunguis
Binomial name
Trionyx triunguis (Forskål, 1775)[3]
Synonyms[4]
List Testudo triunguis Forsskål, 1775 Testudo striata Suckow, 1798 Trionyx egyptiacus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 Trionyx aegyptiacus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 Amyda triunguis Oken, 1816 Aspidonectes aegyptiacus Wagler, 1830 Trionyx niloticus Gray, 1831 Gymnopodus aegyptiacus Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Trionyx (Pelodiscus) labiatus Fitzinger, 1835 Tyrse nilotica Gray, 1844 Trionyx mortoni Hallowell, 1844 Aspidonectes aspilus Cope, 1860 Fordia africana Gray, 1869 Trionyx triunguis Peters, 1876 Gymnopus aspilus Rochebrune, 1884 Gymnopus aegyptiacus Boulenger, 1889 Pelodiscus triunguis Baur, 1893 Aspidonectes triunguis Hay, 1904 Pelodiscus labiatus Hay, 1904 Tyrse triunguis Hay, 1904 Trionyx triunguis rudolfianus Deraniyagala, 1948 Amyda triunguis rudolfianus Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Amyda triunguis triunguis Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Trionyx aegypticus Młynarski, 1969 (ex errore) Trionyx triungus Gosławski & Hryniewicz, 1993 (ex errore) Trionix triunguis Richard, 1999

The African softshell turtle, or Nile softshell turtle (Trionyx triunguis), is a large species of softshell turtle from freshwater and brackish-water habitats in Africa (larger parts of Eastern, Northeastern, Western and Middle Africa) and the Near East (Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey).^[3] It is the only extant species in the genus Trionyx; historically, despite other species having been formerly placed in this genus as well, they have all been reclassified to other genera.^[3]

Despite the common name of "African softshell turtle", Trionyx triunguis is not the sole species (or genus) of softshell turtle found in Africa—the genera Cyclanorbis and Cycloderma are African—nor is it solely found on that continent, alone.^[3]

T. triunguis is a very large species of softshell turtle, with sizes ranging from 85 to 94 cm, with a weight of 40 kg, and an unconfirmed max size of 120 cm. They are omnivorous in their diet, consuming not only small fish, frogs, tadpoles and crustaceans, but also floating palm seeds and fallen leaves, and some aquatic vegetation.

According to the IUCN, the species is vulnerable, and has experienced serious decline.^[5]

The Mediterranean subpopulation of the Nile soft-shelled turtle was listed by the IUCN as critically endangered. They are under threat because of large use of their habitats with fishing activities, and irrigation, destruction of their nesting places, destruction caused by boats, and water pollution.

T. triunguis was listed on CITES's Appendix II in 2016; the population in Ghana was also included in CITES's Appendix III from 1976 to 2007. CITES is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. T. triunguis hatchlings are occasionally sold as pets, with export to Japan and Europe recorded.^[5]

In Ancient Egyptian religion the African softshell turtle seems to have been viewed as a symbol of evil animal and opponent of Ra.^[6]

• 
  African softshell turtle at Nahal Alexander, Israel
• 
  Head of African softshell turtle at Nahal Alexander, Israel
• 
  African softshell turtle with red-eared sliders at Nahal Alexander, Israel
• 
  Head and neck of African softshell turtle at Nahal Alexander, Israel
• 
  Head and neck (retracted) of African softshell turtle at Nahal Alexander, Israel
• 
  Juvenile underwater, buried under sand

• van Dijk, P.P., Diagne, T., Luiselli, L., Baker, P.J., Turkozan, O. & Taskavak, E. 2017. Trionyxtriunguis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T62256A96894956
• Güçlü, Özgür; Durmuş, Salih Hakan; Candan, Kamil; Beşer, Nurettin; Türkyilmaz, Süheyla; Yerli, Sedat; Bozdoğan, Bülent (2015). "Development and characterization of new polymorphic microsatellite loci for Trionyx triunguis (Testudines: Trionychidae) in the Mediterranean Basin". Amphibia-Reptilia. 36 (3): 318–324. doi:10.1163/15685381-00003003.

• Data related to Trionyx triunguis at Wikispecies
• Media related to Trionyx triunguis at Wikimedia Commons

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